Collaborative Learning Community

I would like to thank everyone for their contributions to the classroom and congratulate everyone as well for making it this far.  It has not been easy juggling the different hats that we wear in our lives but we all managed to make it work and as I continue I am reminded that if all of you can do it as mothers, directors, grandmothers, teachers and spouses then I can too.  Your stories of success have been examples of hope for me and your challenges have helped me be a better problem solver.  I have gained a lot form the content in each course but I believe I have learned even more from the interactions with instructors and class mates.  Thank you for your hard work and I wish you all the best as you continue on your professional path.  I would like to stay in touch so feel free to email me anytime at rosana.covarrubias2@waldenu.edu

And now a poem…

As we end the course collaboration and communication

We reach the final stretch towards graduation

With knowledge in our mind and passion in our heart

And the guidance of Dr. Dartt

We learned how to speak and listen better

When working with others together

With the lessons in our head all whirled

Just remember that if you can change your words you can change your world

Thank you all and good luck!

Team Development

When I think about groups in which I have been involved, in the hardest good byes were the ones where I really connected and made friends in.  There are conflicts and problems within every group but the ones that had the fewest negative experiences made the experience all the more positive and the team more memorable.  In this way, I do believe that high-performing groups are the hardest to leave.  Since everything is going more smoothly due to strong and positive communication the tone is presumably less stressful and more joyful.  Establishing clear norms although well intended might not necessarily help maintain a pleasant environment.  In fact, it may do the opposite.  If group members feel like they are being monitored or directed they will feel more individual responsibility therefore deteriorating the team mentality. 

The group that was hardest for me to leave was the after school program team.  I felt like I was respected for my ideas and enjoyed collaborating with the other staff members.  It was a group that confided in each other professionally and personally.  The group celebrated it successes and reflected on its failures always keeping in mind the vision of creating a fun and safe program for the children.  Closing rituals I have experienced included official meetings to de-brief and non-official staff dinners and gatherings.  These helped solidify the relationships in and out of work as we got to learn about each other in different contexts. 

From the group of colleagues I have formed while working on my master’s degree program I would love to be able to meet face to face sometime, especially at the end.  It has meant so much to me to have like-minded people that I can talk to as I continue my educational journey. 

I feel that adjourning an essential stage of teamwork because it is a chance to support each other one last time.  To thank others for their help and to realize all that you have accomplished together and individually.  Furthermore, the experience becomes a resource to learn best practices and lessons learned to use for future projects (Abudi, 2010).

Reference

Abudi, G. (2010). The five stages of team development: A case study. Retrieved from http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/the-five-stages-of-team-development-a-case-study.html

Nonviolent Communication and Conflict Management

I have learned strategies that might help me manage or resolve conflict more productively.  The first would be to empathetically listen to the requests of others when they honestly express their needs.  This method helps clarify what the disagreement or conflict is about and can lead to a better understanding of every ones feelings.  I think whenever you can put yourself in the same state of mind or emotion of another person you can more easily see things from their point of view which can ultimately assist in the better management of conflicts.  The second strategy would be to have more responsive interactions.  I feel that what people want most is to be heard and by responding that assures them that you were listening.  There is a better chance of managing, resolving, and even avoiding conflict if it is discussed in a responsive manner where everyone has the opportunity to express and listen.  

These strategies are effective because they can both lead to solutions or a compromise where everyone’s views were considered.  The potential for tensions to rise and conflict to escalate might have been great but everyone can feel accomplished in the fact that it did not get to that level.  Also, everyone could feel like they were effective communicators by using appropriate skills.  I feel that there is a lot to learn about others and ourselves in these types of situations